Tag Archives: San Diego Chargers

Otten, Ryan

leaf13 otten

Card: Leaf Draft 2013
Acquired: 2013, Box Breaker

As a junior in 2011, Ryan Otten played 11 games and had 52 receptions for 739 yards and 5 touchdowns, earning an All-WAC selection.  He earned a followup All-WAC selection in 2012, when he had had 47 receptions for 742 yards and 4 touchdowns. Notably his 15.8 yards per catch led all Division I tight ends in 2012, and he joined Notre Dame’s Tyler Eifert as the only two tight ends who ranked in the top 100 nationally in both receptions and receiving yards per game in 2011.

Oddly Otten would not be selected in the 2013 NFL Draft due to average speed and lack of bulk. The Jaguars signed him as a priority free agent . Later that year he’d be on the practice squad of the Chargers. In 2014, Otten signed a futures contract with the Bengals, and then later joined the Vikings who he played for through 2015.

Brennan, Brian

pset89 brennanCards: Topps 1990,
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent: 2/9      Received: 2/22  (11 days)
Failure: TTM 2011, C/o Home

Brian Brennan was a consistently unheralded receiver in the Browns receiving corps from back in the 80s. Reliable, with good hands and route running, Brennan was a player who made it despite the naysayers by sheer grit and determination- almost like a prehistoric Kevin Walter.

to90 brennanBrian was an All-American wide receiver and established Boston College records for career receptions (115) and single season receptions (66). A teammate of Heisman Trophy Winner Doug Flutie, Brennan’s 2,180 career yards and 1,149 single-season yardage totals also set BC records. A 4th round pick of the Browns in 1984, Brian had to contribute any way he could and spent his first two years as the primary punt returner, even nabbing a TD in 1985. Never a starter in the wide receiver corps, somehow Brian managed to make big plays when they counted. His best season came in 1986 with 55 receptions for 838 yards and 5 touchdowns.  Surrounded by guys like Bernie Kosar, Ice Cube McNeil, Kevin Mack, Webster Slaughter, Ozzie Newsome, Earnest Byner, and Reggie Langhorne, Brennan always had to fight for scraps.

ap91 brennanBrian played through the 1991 season and then joined the cross state rival Bengals for a few weeks, before closing it out with the San Diego Chargers.

Since retiring Brian has worked as a broadcaster for the Browns and was inducted into the Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. I had tried previously in the past to get Brian, since he has some surprisingly nice cards but was unsuccessful. I decided to give it another shot and got these 3 back in the mail in a short amount of time.

Rec 334     Yds 4336       Avg  13.0       Td  20      Lg   57
Pr 56     Yds 438      Avg 7.8       Td  1       Lg   37t

Miller, Anthony

aprks92 amillerCard: Action Packed Rookies 1992
Acquired: Paid Signing, 2015

An impressive track man in college, Miller was an accomplished wide receiver for the Tennessee Vols, during a golden era of wide receivers at the college.  In 1988, he’d be drafted by the San Diego Chargers, taken with the 15th overall pick. Although his rookie season wasn’t impressive, he’d split time on kick returns with 648 yards on 25 returns and a TD. It’d be in 1989 that he’d have a breakthrough season, with a career high 1,252 yards and 10 touchdowns, along with 533 yards on 21 returns and a TD. He’d also place second in the NFL’s Fastest Man Competition behind Redskins DB Darrell Green. Although Miller for most of his career suffered from San Diego’s lack of stability at quarterback, he still managed to put together respectable numbers through and through.  He’d add two more 1,000+ yard seasons to his resume playing for the Chargers in 1992 and 1993.

With Free Agency in full effect by the 1993 season, and Anthony’s clock up with San Diego in 1994, he signed with the cross divisional rival Denver Broncos. He’d post two more 1,000 yard seasons catching passes from John Elway through 1996.  After a final season in Dallas, Miller retired.

G/Gs 155/152      Rec  595        Yds  9148     Avg 15.4      Td 63      Lg 76